Health risk assessment of ‘tiger prawn seed’ collectors exposed to heavy metal pollution in the conserved mangrove forest of Indian Sundarbans: A socio-environmental perspective

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals contamination from anthropogenic sources in waterways of conserved mangrove ecosystem (Indian Sundarbans) poses serious health hazard to the economically marginalized ‘tiger prawn seed’ (TPS) collectors. Principal component analysis identifies Pb, Ni and Cd as anthropogenic pollutant in Indian Sundarbans. It is observed that Cu, Fe and Zn concentration increases in monsoon, whereas concentration of Cd and Pb decreases in comparison to pre-monsoon levels at all seven fishing villages. Economic status has been assessed using Wealth Rank Tool, which indicates 16–71% of population is in acute economic stress conditions and 5–70% of populations engaged in unsustainable TPS collection for their livelihood. Focus group discussion shows that collectors are exposed (exposure time (ET)) to contaminated water for 3–7 h/d, and lifetime exposure (exposure duration (ED)) varies from 5 to 20 yr. Using site-specific ET and ED results, cumulative hazard quotient (HQ) dermal is estimated to be higher in female than in male. HQ varies from medium (≥1 to <4) to high (>4) due to Cd pollution (0.1–0.26 mg L^-1). The study suggests that promoting alternative sustainable livelihood through group-based organizations (poultry, organic farming, entrepreneurship and transport) could be an effective solution to this problem.

KEYWORDS:

• mangrove
• Cd pollution
• focus group discussion
• health case studies
• non-cancer health risk
• public health
• fishery

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Mr. Santanu Bhattacharyya, programme coordinator of P.E.M.R project, Tagore Society for Rural Development, Rangabelia division, for his help and support during wealth ranking and focused group survey sessions. The first author is specifically grateful to all the informants and ‘tiger prawn seed collectors’ who have agreed to participate in the survey with trust that their identity/anonymity would be maintained.

Funding

The first author is grateful to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad for providing fellowship to conduct this study.